NEWS

​On Monday, May 21st, Borough President James S. Oddo recognized the important and heroic works of the Emergency Medical Services community with a special ceremony in their honor during National EMS Week at the Excelsior Grand.

“I want to thank the EMS community for all you do,” said BP Oddo. “You are there for us when our life is on the line. I am thankful we get to celebrate you this week, but know your efforts are appreciated every day.”

On Sunday, October 1st, hundreds gathered at the 9/11 First Responders Memorial on the St. George Promenade to dedicate the memorial, which honors the sacrifices made by Staten Island’s First Responders who died as a result of their brave service on—and in the aftermath of—9/11.

BP Oddo and Mayor de Blasio spoke about the importance of getting the names of those we’ve lost inscribed on the memorial. The ceremony featured touching musical performances by Arlette Roxburgh as well as tribute readings.

“I made a promise to the families that 9/11/2016 would be the last anniversary that names of those lost as a result of their work on 9/11 and its aftermath would be absent from the Memorial dedicated to their memory. I am glad these names are finally in their rightful place on the monument,” said BP Oddo. “These are heroes, and these are people who live life the way we should. These are people who were selfless. Now more than ever, in this time of division, we need to remember their stories. Their lives should be remembered, and their stories should be told."

"We will not forget them, and we will not forget their families as they continue to bear the pain that unites us all, remembering what they gave, the good they were, and the example they are still to all of us," de Blasio said.

We thank all those who made the ceremony special, including NYCEDC, FDNY, NYPD, DSNY, Fred Ariemma of Ariemma’s Garden Center, Anthony Campitiello of Alfonso’s Pastry Shoppe, Sal Sottile of Sottile Security International Inc., and the NY Wheel.

On Tuesday, July 19th, BP Oddo joined with FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro and FDNY Chief of Department James Leonard to celebrate the addition of three new brush fire units at Engine 164/Ladder 84. The new units are a replacement for the five that were lost during Hurricane Sandy, leaving our community vulnerable to brush fires.The units were obtained after BP Oddo wrote a letter in April of 2014 to the FDNY requesting new units to replace the ones lost in Sandy."This is the best fire department in the world and when you give them the equipment, they get to do their jobs and save lives," noted BP Oddo. "We on Staten Island are grateful for these three units."

Members of the FDNY demonstrated the capabilities of the units, which include spraying hundreds of gallons of water and compressed-air foam.